Fireworks continued in northwest Iowa the day after Independence Day.

NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS

This tree limb probably wasn't the hood ornament this vehicle's owner wanted.

A massive thunderstorm system slammed the tri-state area on July 5 leaving downed trees, damaged property, bent crops and power outages in its wake. In Hartley, electricity was out for approximately three hours. Several homes and vehicles also received heavy damage due to felled tree limbs, which also snapped power lines throughout town.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Sioux Falls classified the storm as a derecho, which is at least the second to hit the area in the last six months. The storm is defined as a widespread, long-lived windstorm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.

The NWS reported wind speeds at Hartley reached 79 mph, while Spencer topped out at 80 mph. Numbers were greater farther west, as the South Dakota cities of Huron and Howard tallied 96 mph and 99 mph, respectively.